Job Search By the Numbers in 2020

With unemployment at a 50-year low, it's a job seeker's market.

But that doesn’t mean it’s a perfect market. In fact, there are issues that could be exacerbated by a strong economy, such as industries already in decline, satisfaction with the hiring process and the mobile job search approach.

Whether you’re three months into your job search or just starting, these stats will help you land your next big interview.

Let’s back up and start with the facts about the unemployment numbers.

Many job seekers say it's easier than ever to find good work

A record 47% of the workforce say now is a good time to find a quality job, and a majority of employees (51%) are actively searching.

The people faring best are

With college degrees

Who live in big cities

Who work in "high-skill" industries, such as:

Technology | Telecommunications | Marketing

Source: Gallup

A majority (69%) of employees are optimistic or very optimistic about their ability to find a new job.

Source: Addison Group

and they feel so emboldened, they're even "ghosting" companies.

More workers (19%, up from 11% in 2018) say they turned down a job after signing an official offer but before their first day …

Source: Jobvite

… and a whopping 83% of employers say they’ve been ghosted at some point in the hiring process.

Source: Indeed

Meanwhile, many job seekers feel they can preemptively reject an employer based on unfavorable Glassdoor reviews:

Source: Jobvite

Don't forget, many people are still hurting

A lot of job seekers (45%) say it was harder to find a job in 2019 than it was in 2018.

Source: Gallup

Rural workers (27%) are more likely to say they’re having a hard time than city dwellers (17%). Those without a college degree (21%) say they’re having a harder time than those who have a degree (16%).

and some are having an extra hard time.

The groups struggling the most work in the following fields:

Mining

Transportation

Real Estate

Source: Gallup

Only 12% of employees strongly agree that their organization does a great job of onboarding new employees.

Source: Gallup

Here are job seekers’ top five biggest frustrations in the job search:

Source: CareerBuilder and SilkRoad

Perhaps it's too lengthy.

An average of 38 days passes between the job posting and first interview.

Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers

An average of 25 days passes between a final interview and job offer.

Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers

Additionally, more people are conducting job searches on mobile devices⁠, which has its own set of problems.

According to Glassdoor, 58% of its users look for jobs on their phones, especially those in mid-career (35 to 44 years old).

Source: Glassdoor Economic Research

Job seekers successfully complete 53% fewer applications and it takes them 80% longer to do so on mobile devices.

Source: Glassdoor Economic Research

Just a little extra work on the potential employer's part would make people happier.

Job seekers would like to see their applications acknowledged in the following ways:

Source: CareerBuilder and SilkRoad

Let's back up. Where are job seekers looking for opportunities now?

Source: Gallup

There’s a difference between those already with jobs and those looking: 38% of employed workers say they could use their professional networks to create their next opportunity, while only 18% of the unemployed say the same.

Source: Jobvite

Online job boards are popular. Which are best?

Consumer Advocate evaluated almost 30 job sites and gave out the following awards:

Best overall: Indeed

Best for additional services: Monster

Best for company reviews and salary information: Glassdoor

Best for networking: LinkedIn

Best for company profiles: The Muse

Other job sites they rated highly were:

ZipRecruiter | CareerBuilder | VelvetJobs | The Ladders

Source: Consumers Advocate

Employers are enticing job seekers with the following benefits

Source: Gallup

Perks aside, people usually take the best overall deal.

Of those who turned down a job after signing an offer, they did so because they:

Source: Jobvite

or they pick the best opportunity for career growth.

And 61% of workers say career growth opportunities are more important than compensation (57%) and health care/retirement benefits (58%).

Source: Jobvite

And they're still quite serious about benefits.

Here’s what today’s job seekers have established as “essential” benefits when considering opportunities:

Source: Jobvite

Here’s what today’s workers would like to see most as “extra” benefits:

Source: Jobvite

Landing a job

Realistically, you should be prepared to change up your job search if you want to be successful. Please consider:

Identifying your transferable skills if you work in a struggling industry (e.g., real estate, transportation), then highlighting them in your resume.

Real estate agents, for example, have skills that are valued in a wide range of sales positions in booming industries, such as commercial construction.

Moving to a city or suburb if you live in a rural area in economic decline.

In the coming decades, the United States’ biggest cities are expected to get richer and more powerful while already depressed rural regions will lose out to automation.

Hesitating before filling out applications on mobile.

Sometimes this is unavoidable, but when you put so much care into crafting a resume and cover letter, you wouldn’t want issues with the submissions portal or formatting to hold you back.

If you want to continue expanding your knowledge, read more from our 2020 employment stats series, including stories on:

About the Author

About the Author

Don is a freelance writer with more than five years' experience in digital media. His work has appeared in a variety of publications, including Oprah.com, Yahoo! and HuffPost. While at OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, his creative use of archival content was a driving force in the company's success on YouTube. He received an M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, where he specialized in media innovation.